America Online Overtakes U.S. Postal Service
By Dean Tomasula
Looking for a play in Internet stocks? Analysts and investment banks contributing research to Multex.com have identified the most followed companies this week in The Internet Analyst's universe of 150 stocks:
AMERICA ONLINE (AOL): BancBoston Robertson Stephens rates the shares of AMERICA ONLINE a STRONG BUY and said that during the next few months, investors should realize the "power of its position," and aggressively accumulate the stock. The brokerage also noted that AMERICA ONLINE, through its various instant messaging services, delivers more messages than the U.S. Postal Service delivers letters. "We believe AMERICA ONLINE is poised to define a new meaning for the Internet with its AOL Anywhere strategy," said the brokerage. "We also believe it can jump to the next level by virtue of its relationship with around 100 million people." The brokerage forecasts EPS of $0.32 for 1999 and EPS of $0.53 for 2000. For 2Q99, it forecasts EPS of $0.08, EPS of $0.09 for 3Q99 and EPS of $0.10 for 4Q99. In early trading July 19, the company's shares were at $120. There were 50 new reports about the company added to the Multex.com database last week. In June, research about AMERICA ONLINE was accessed 800 times.
INFOSPACE.COM (INSP): The introduction of new services in 2Q99 that should contribute significant revenue to the company's bottom line led Dain Rauscher Wessels to rate the stock of INFOSPACE.COM a STRONG BUY, with a price target of $83. In early trading July 19, the company's shares were at $57.18. The brokerage noted that the introduction of the ActiveShopper and ActivePromotions should measurable boost the company's revenue through cross selling to its 110 affiliates. The brokerage forecasts a loss of $0.02 per share for FY99, an adjustment from its previous forecast of a loss of $0.08 per share for the year. For FY00, it forecasts EPS of $0.02. For 2Q99, the brokerage raised its EPS estimate to a loss of $0.01 per share, from a loss of $0.04 per share. There were 12 new reports about the company added to our database last week. Research about the company was accessed 10 times in June.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP (UNH): SG Cowen Securities reiterated its STRONG BUY rating on UNITEDHEALTH GROUP and raised its 12-month price target to the high $80s, from $70. Early on July 19, the company's stock was trading at $60. The brokerage called the company's shares "the bellwether of managed care stocks." For 2Q99, the brokerage raised its forecast to EPS of $0.75, from EPS of $0.73. For 3Q99 it forecasts EPS of $0.78, and EPS of $0.82 for 4Q99. For 1999 SG Cowen forecasts EPS of $3.07 and EPS of $3.50 for 2000. "We think UNITED HEALTHCARE GROUP can sustain mid-teens top-line growth in its health plan business on a same-plan basis over the next 3-5 years, with mid-to-high single digit enrollment and price increases," the brokerage said.
PHONE.COM (PHCM): USBancorp Piper Jaffray reiterated its STRONG BUY rating on PHONE.COM, with an 18-month price target of $84. In early trading July 19, the company's stock was at $79. The brokerage noted the strong demand for the company's Wireless Application Protocol technology, and said it expects to see more announcements regarding worldwide commercial deployment. For 1999, the brokerage forecasts a loss of $3.35 per share, and a loss of $1.10 per share for 2000. For 2Q99, it forecasts a loss of $0.84 per share, a loss of $0.73 per share for 3Q99 and a loss of $0.78 per share for 4Q99.
America Online Overtakes U.S. Postal Service
By Dean Tomasula
Looking for a play in Internet stocks? Analysts and investment banks contributing research to Multex.com have identified the most followed companies this week in The Internet Analyst's universe of 150 stocks:
AMERICA ONLINE (AOL): BancBoston Robertson Stephens rates the shares of AMERICA ONLINE a STRONG BUY and said that during the next few months, investors should realize the "power of its position," and aggressively accumulate the stock. The brokerage also noted that AMERICA ONLINE, through its various instant messaging services, delivers more messages than the U.S. Postal Service delivers letters. "We believe AMERICA ONLINE is poised to define a new meaning for the Internet with its AOL Anywhere strategy," said the brokerage. "We also believe it can jump to the next level by virtue of its relationship with around 100 million people." The brokerage forecasts EPS of $0.32 for 1999 and EPS of $0.53 for 2000. For 2Q99, it forecasts EPS of $0.08, EPS of $0.09 for 3Q99 and EPS of $0.10 for 4Q99. In early trading July 19, the company's shares were at $120. There were 50 new reports about the company added to the Multex.com database last week. In June, research about AMERICA ONLINE was accessed 800 times.
INFOSPACE.COM (INSP): The introduction of new services in 2Q99 that should contribute significant revenue to the company's bottom line led Dain Rauscher Wessels to rate the stock of INFOSPACE.COM a STRONG BUY, with a price target of $83. In early trading July 19, the company's shares were at $57.18. The brokerage noted that the introduction of the ActiveShopper and ActivePromotions should measurable boost the company's revenue through cross selling to its 110 affiliates. The brokerage forecasts a loss of $0.02 per share for FY99, an adjustment from its previous forecast of a loss of $0.08 per share for the year. For FY00, it forecasts EPS of $0.02. For 2Q99, the brokerage raised its EPS estimate to a loss of $0.01 per share, from a loss of $0.04 per share. There were 12 new reports about the company added to our database last week. Research about the company was accessed 10 times in June.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP (UNH): SG Cowen Securities reiterated its STRONG BUY rating on UNITEDHEALTH GROUP and raised its 12-month price target to the high $80s, from $70. Early on July 19, the company's stock was trading at $60. The brokerage called the company's shares "the bellwether of managed care stocks." For 2Q99, the brokerage raised its forecast to EPS of $0.75, from EPS of $0.73. For 3Q99 it forecasts EPS of $0.78, and EPS of $0.82 for 4Q99. For 1999 SG Cowen forecasts EPS of $3.07 and EPS of $3.50 for 2000. "We think UNITED HEALTHCARE GROUP can sustain mid-teens top-line growth in its health plan business on a same-plan basis over the next 3-5 years, with mid-to-high single digit enrollment and price increases," the brokerage said.
PHONE.COM (PHCM): USBancorp Piper Jaffray reiterated its STRONG BUY rating on PHONE.COM, with an 18-month price target of $84. In early trading July 19, the company's stock was at $79. The brokerage noted the strong demand for the company's Wireless Application Protocol technology, and said it expects to see more announcements regarding worldwide commercial deployment. For 1999, the brokerage forecasts a loss of $3.35 per share, and a loss of $1.10 per share for 2000. For 2Q99, it forecasts a loss of $0.84 per share, a loss of $0.73 per share for 3Q99 and a loss of $0.78 per share for 4Q99.
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